Thanks for all the advice again.

And I have another Q for you Jiffy or anybody who wants to answer. About Sleep Apnea. How does this effect your metabolism? My hubby has it and I am pretty sure I do as well, just haven't went to get tested.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again! You all are Great!



*TFL*

I'm not sure how sleep apnea affects your metabolism, but it stresses your heart and deprives oxygen to your brain. I would wake up with severe headaches because I wasn't breathing right.

oh geez. i didn't get around to answering your question, fatt lady. a thousand apologies.

this is what my pulmonologist [also a sleep specialist] told me, and i strongly recommend that your husband talk to his sleep specialist about it.

when a person has sleep apnea, they stop breathing. that means that the heart isn't pumping and therefore the blood isn't going through your body. and whenever that happens, the oxygen that the blood carries can't be exchanged in the cells. it's like a train at a station. when it pulls up, the people get on and off. if the train starts up again, people will get on and off at each stop. if it just sits there, nobody new gets on, and no one else gets off.

that ends up starving your tissues of oxygen. if the apnea is severe that the the person stops breathing A LOT [like 30 -60 times an hour - which works out to every minute or two], the tissues never quite catch up - they never get enough oxygen - and they don't work at all well. so the lungs work harder and harder, you get more and more tired, so you fall asleep while you're driving or just sitting, and then you stop breathing. it's a nasty, vicious cycle.

so, the treatment is to keep you breathing. that's what the CPAP [or, in some cases the BiPAP] is for. the CPAP provides a flow of air to keep you airway from collapsing [which is - bottom line - what happens in most sleep apnea]. when you inhale, it provides a little extra push.

the BiPAP helps you both inhale and exhale [i had to use it as my respiratory muscles were so weak].

oxygen can also be added to increase the amount of oxygen to the cells. this was an absolutely essential part of my recovery. i doubt very much that i'd be sitting here typing this if i hadn't had this.

does this help?

My Dh had sleep apnea surgery and it was a godsend!
however you do have to watch the weight around his neck my dh has gained about 30 pounds and he started snoring again

Hey All,

Thanks for your replies on the thread that I started. I should have posted on this one.

My initial appointment is two days away. I wish it was here, I am so apprehensive.

I'm tired now, but don't want to go to sleep.

More later.

For me I was 325 lbs at 5' 2" tall and I was dieing, my BMI was 60. I had just had my 4th son and had diabetes, PCOS, sleep apnea to the point that I would pray at night before bed that God give me one more day with my family.

It was my last resort. I had/have tried it all, I can lose weight, I can never keep it off. I was watching CNN one night and there was a story about morbidly obese people losing weight, (not about WLS, just dieting) and the statistics that they quoted where that only 5% of morbidly obese people that lose the weight, keep it off long term. That we in this country, do not have a problem with keeping it off, that most not only gain it back but they gain it back plus more. That hit home for me.

I began researching; and found that 85% of patients that have the gastric bypass keep the weight off. So for me the statistics were much better.

I found out that my insurance company did not cover it, so I had to wait until open enrollment that was 9 months away. So I joined a non-surgeon specific support group started and run by patients in my area. That was the best thing I ever did.

I not only got to find out the good, bad and the horrible but I found my surgeon, and without him I would be dead today, literally.

I wanted to live to see my children grown and I knew that I was going to die; I could not walk across the room and breath at the same time.

This surgery is the best thing I have ever done, but it is not without risks, I have had 11 surgeries in 2.5 years, not all because of the WLS but most. I am alive because I have a GREAT surgeon.

I knew I was going to die, and I was either going to die on the couch or I was going to die trying to live, to be here for my family! It was a risk I was willing to take!

me before


I lost 49 pounds waiting for surgery, and you couldn't even tell


Me now.

Hazel!!!! you gorgeous creature you! where have you been? so glad to see you post and that you're doing so well!!

what's new??? how's the divine debkay?

much love to you both

Hazel Wow you look like 2 different people completely! BTW you're GORGEOUS!
great work!

OMG Hazel... YOU ROCK YOU ROCK YOU ROCK !!!! Fantastic job, you look amazing. WHOOT! I'm so happy for you. I wanna look just like you WOWEE.


Can I ask?? did you have any cosmetic surgery for excess skin?

Thank you all; you sure know how to make a girl feel good!

Jiff Debbie says hi, she is doing great!! Debbie is THE best thing that happened to me in this entire process, meeting Debbie, she is truly my best friend. I cannot imagine a day without talking to her! She has sat many days with me in ICU/hospital when my husband had to work she has seen me at my best and at my worst and still loves me!

I could not love her more if she had been born into my family. She is the best!!!

Yes I have had some plastic surgery, I had a lower body lift! Where most people have an apron, I had a mini skirt, I had hanging skin all the way around even on my butt. It was really painful but oooooohhh so worth it! I would love to have my arms and breasts done, but I have been through a lot and still not sure if I am ever going to have them done !

I went into the hospital in size 14 jeans and came out (after the swelling went down) in a size 6 Levis!!! Now I wear a size 4!

Oh yeah, my insurance company paid 100% of my lower body lift all $26,000.00 of it !!!

Hazel !! All I can say is WOW !

I too struggled with WLS decision until my sister had lapband surgery 18 months ago....I have watched her lose 100 pounds during this time......I was banded on March 7, 2006 and I have lost 48 pounds to date....slower than bypass but without any of the problems.....I have never thrown up, slimed or any of the other nasty things.. you hear about....I am not really on a diet, I am given the choice to eat well or poorly.....I can eat anything that I can chew up and swallow...I seem to have problems with Macaroni, but can eat Lasagna, trouble with corn, but can eat brocoli.....you just have to figure out what you can eat, it is differenct with everyone.....The thing I like about the lapband is if I begin to feel hungry or that I am eating too much or not losing weight, I can go and have a fill and be back in the losing game....I do not regret my decision for one minute....even when I choose to eat poorly....I can not eat as much, I feel full, so my portion is controlled. This month I averaged 1.5 pounds per week which is right on schedule and I had cake on my birthday!.....It is a personal decision each person has to make....go to seminars for both Gastric and Bypass, talk to people who have had both, weight the risks and the benefits of both....I did, chose lapband and am very happy. Gastric people seem to be against lapband, and I guess lapband against Gastric, but I have seen successes with both WLS, you need to decide what is right for you.

After 10+ years of being obese and hating myself and 2 serious years of research I decided to have WLS in Dec03. It is the best thing I did for myself. I have tried every diet out there only to lose the first 25 pounds and then gain it all back. The final "good ol' try" I lost 30 pounds and regained it but was able to hold off any additional weight gain. I topped out at 271 in May03 when I finally started the necessary tests to get approved for RNY. Luckily my insurance covered all costs. I am coming up on my 3 year mark and I am currently looking into reconstructive surgery. I see a plastic surgeon tomorrow about a tummy tuck. I'm told that just on my abdomen I am carrying 10 extra ppounds in excess skin. If this plastic surgeon accepts me tomorrow then it will be covered by my insurance plan. So say a prayer for me. I can't say my journey has been uneventful as I am just coming out of a battle with severe anemia which led to a hysterectomy for me in March of this year and I am still receiving monthly iron infusions in order to build my blood levels back up. I am also living in daily pain due to a bulging disc in my lower back. My chiropractor says the excess skin is aggravating my back, so I'm hoping that qualifies me for the tummy tuck. I do not regret my decision but I always warn people to do their research first as it is a HUGE,HUGE decision. Best wishes to you on your own journey.

I'm a newbie around here and I look forward to getting to know you all.

Hey all, for sharing all your stories and personal experiences. I sure do appreciate them.

I just learned someone I know just had gastric bypass. I was just wondering, have any of you came across negativity towards the WLS with your family or friends? Because I'm getting a lot of that now. (I personally have not had the surgery yet, still considering)

Thanks so much!

aahhh. negativity. it comes in many forms - sometimes it's along the lines of 'what makes you think it'll work for you since you can't stick to anything.' or wls is the easy way out and if you only did .... you'd be able to lose the weight.

what are people saying to you? bottom line, it's YOUR decision, YOUR life, YOUR choice